Garbage at a big price

THE cost of kerbside waste collection on the Coast could skyrocket from $187 to $360 a year if a new council strategy is adopted on Thursday.

The collection of non-recycled waste could be changed to fortnightly instead of weekly.

Council debated yesterday the endorsement of the long-awaited Waste Minimisation Strategy document, which has offered three options to reduce waste destined for landfill by 70%, due to be introduced in 2014 “but doing nothing is not an option”.

“Waste management will be more expensive, one way or another, with landfills representing 66% of council’s (total) carbon footprint, with the biggest greenhouse gas emitter being paper and cardboard,” environment councillor Keryn Jones said.

She said the most expensive option involved the use of digestive composting, maximising recycling opportunities and waste energy.

“Some councils in NSW and Western Australia use that,” Ms Jones said.

“But even at $360 a year, it’s only a dollar a day for the highest, best-quality waste management.”

Ms Jones said there would be community consultation before any final decision was made.

“One option is a three-bin system where you would have a 240-litre recycling bin, a (same-sized) organic bin for food and green waste, and a 120-litre bin for waste packaging,” she said.

Alternatively, a home composting bin could replace the collected organic one, and would be cheaper.

“A lot of places in NSW have that, where composting is the main waste,” Ms Jones said.

Ultimately a user-pays system would apply, combined with an education program and a possible “three strikes” component where recalcitrant users would receive larger waste bins after advice and a letter – and pay for the privilege.